LANSING – State Representative Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City) this week voted to speed up the development of 21st century technology such as advanced batteries and solar panels to make Michigan a magnet for jobs in the emerging alternative energy industry. The legislation, which passed the House, provides $30 million in grants to businesses as part of the Centers of Energy Excellence Program to help move technology from the research stage to commercial production.
"Michigan has the world-class manufacturing infrastructure and the top-notch workforce we need to fully take advantage of this emerging industry," said Mayes, Chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee. "With so many of our friends and neighbors looking to get back on the job, it's clear we need to do all we can to attract the job providers Bay County needs. My top priority is bringing jobs and investment to our community, and renewable energy offers us a vast, untapped market that we can use to move our state forward."
Under the plan, $30 million in grants from the 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund will be used to bring in matching federal grants. This funding will act as a catalyst for developing energy technology and attracting new businesses in the growing alternative energy sector.
Two companies, Adaptive Materials and A123 Systems, are slated to receive awards from the Centers of Energy Excellence Program in order to secure matching federal dollars. Ann Arbor-based Adaptive Materials is a leading manufacturer of fuel cells that convert readily available fuels such as propane into clean, long-lasting power sources. A123 Systems, which has invested in facilities in Ann Arbor, is a leading producer of lithium-ion advanced batteries for cleaner, more efficient vehicles. As part of this plan, businesses receiving the grants are required to work with an institution of higher education.
The plan builds on the creation of $555 million in ground-breaking incentives for advanced batteries that already have resulted in more than $3 billion in investments by seven world-class advanced battery companies that will create more than 6,600 jobs in Michigan. Mayes supported these first-in-the-nation credits, which helped position Michigan to land $1.36 billion in federal advanced battery grants.